Well washing device



Nov. 14, 1939. o. E. MELTON WELL WASHING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1 9s7 XQLATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,180,309 WELL WASHING DEVICE Ode E. Melton, Burkburnett, Tex, assignor to said Ode E. Melton, as trustee for himself and Fonzo L. Pilkenton, Burkburnett, Tex.

Application July 8, 1937, Serial No. 152,632

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in well'washing devices, particularly for use in oil wells and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide for the washing of the walls of oil wells in order to free them of sand, paraflin, asphalt, and

' other foreign matter that deters the free flow of oil into the Well. Any solvent or fluid desired can be used in connection with this invention to dissolve or dislodge the foreign substance from the walls of the well. It is often desirable to wash the Walls of the well with acids or heated solvents to obtain the greatest production efliciency of the well and prevent foreign matter from subsequently settling back into the well and clogging or cutting out the working parts of' the pumping equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide for lowering the washing liquid to a point near the bottom of the well and then to provide a jetting action of the washing liquid against the walls of the well. g

This invention provides a series of intake and exhaust valves for a circulation of the washing fluid at a point near the bottom of the well in the course of a pumping action.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the washing device, partly in elevation and showing the working parts in one position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the working parts in a different position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 44 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through an outlet or fluid jet and valve; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view through a fluid inlet valve.

The washing device according to this invention comprises a barrel or cylinder 1 having its upper end closed by a cap I2, and the barrel I is provided with an orifice 9, in a side thereof spaced downwardly from the upper end of the barrel for the admission of fluid into the same when the plunger of the device is in its uppermost position. A plunger 8 is mounted in the barrel 1 for reciprocating movement longitudinally thereof, being attached to the plunger rod III, slidably mounted in the cap l2 and provided with an eye I I on the upper end thereof for connection of a cable thereto.

The lower end portion of the barrel I is pro- Vided with an pwardly directed valve seat 24 in position to receive a valve I3 mounted for up and down movement in the barrel between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which valve I3 prevents the escape of the Washing fluid when seated; until desired. A valve stem I5 extends down wardly from the valve I3 and carries a valve I4 on its lower end portion and below the valve I4, there is secured to the valve stem I5 an extension I6. The valve I4 is in position to engage a seat. I! secured at the lower end of the barrel 1. The valves I3 and I4 seat in opposite directions alternately so that one is opened when the other is closed, and these valves are provided with the usual valve guides for centering the same in the valve seats 24 and I1, respectively.

Normally the valve I3 will be closed when the device is lowered into the well, the parts being in the positions shown in Fig. l, and the space above the valve I3 being filled with the Washing fluid or liquid. When the extension I 6 engages the bottom of the Well, it will arrest the downward movement of the valve stem I5 with the valves I3 and I4, while allowing the barrel 1 to continue downwardly thereby opening the valve I3 and allowing the washing fluid or liquid to be dumped into the lower portion of the barrel which is designated I8.

The section I8 of the barrel is provided with a plurality of nozzles 20, in the upper portion thereof, which may vary in size as desired, which nozzles are provided at the upper ends of checkvalves I9 constructed for outflow of liquid from within the barrel but preventing back flow into the same. When the washing liquid is dumped into the lower section I8 of the barrel, the valve I4 will have been closed upon the opening of the valve I3, and the liquid in the barrel will flow out through the nozzles 20 in the form of jets, which nozzles will direct the liquid against the sides of the well with sufficient force to obtain a thorough cleansing and washing action thereof. The plunger 8 continues its downward movement in the barrel to force out the washing fluid under pressure, but it is prevented from striking the valve l3 by longitudinal ribs or projections 2!, formed in the barrel above the valve seat 24 which arrest the downward movement of the plunger.

The lower portion of the barrel section I 8 is provided with check-valves 23, having inlets 22 at the periphery of the barrel which check-valves are constructed for liquid flow into the barrel while seating to prevent outflow therefrom. When the plunger 8 has been moved to its lowermost position to discharge the washing fluid and the washing action thereby completed, the movement of the plunger is reversed, so that it is pulled upwardly in the barrel to a point near the top thereof, as

5 shown in Fig. 1, thereby sucking the washing fluid through the inlets 22 and check-valves 23 into thebarrel section l8. The valve I4 being closed the plunger 8 may be operated up and down in this manner in a churning motion to 10 circulate the washing liquid back and forth against the walls of the well until the desired washing action is completed, and the walls thoroughly cleaned of foreign substance which might interfere with the proper flow of oil.

When the washing operation is finished, the finishing up stroke of the plunger 8 will draw the washing liquid into the upper portion of the barrel, so that when the washing device israised therein the valve l3 will be seated, trapping the washing fluid in the barrel and thereby remov ing the foreign matter held in solution in the washing fluid.

The extension It may be used, if desired, or constructed of any suitable length according to the portion, and the well to be treated. By the use of this extension, a strata, several feet above the bottom of the well, may be washed without having to use an extremely long washing device.

The washing device may be of any desired length, size, or capacity, according to the size of the well to be treated, and it will often attain a length of from twenty to fifty feet depending upon the thickness of the formation to be washed.

I claim: I

1. A well washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers therein, means for controlling communication between said chambers, said lower chamber having discharge openings at the upper portion of the periphery thereof, and means for circulating washing fluid from the well into the lower portion of the lower chamber below the discharge openings and lengthwise through the barrel to the discharge openings where said washing fluid is discharged back into the well.

2. A well washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers, means for controlling communication between said chambers, the lower chamber having discharge openings at the periphery of the device at the upper portion of the lower chamber for discharging washing fluid into the well, and said barrel having separate intake openings in the periphery thereof at the lower portion of the lower chamber for circulation of the washing fluid into the barrel from the well.

3. A well washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers, means for controlling communication between said chambers, the lower chamber having discharge openings at the periphery of the device at the upper portion of the lower chamber for discharging washing fluid into the well, said barrel having separate openings in the periphery thereof at the lower portion of the lower chamber for circulation of the washing fluid into the barrel from the well, means for limiting the flow of fluid through the respective openings to one direction only, H and means for trapping the washing fluid in the barrel after said recirculation.

4. A washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers, a valve for controlling communication between said chambers and seating in a downward direction, a second 7 valve in the lower portion of said. barrel seating in an upward direction, and means for alternately opening and closing said valves by engagement of said means with the bottom of the well.

5. A washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers, a valve for controlling communication between said chambers and seating in a downward direction, a second valve in the lower portion of said barrel seating in an upward direction, means for alternately opening and closing said valves by engagement of said means with the bottom of the well, and a plunger mounted in the upper chamber for reciprocation therein, the lower chamber having a plurality of discharge nozzles for ejecting washing fluid at the periphery of the barrel and having separate openings in the periphery thereof for withdrawing said washing fluid from within the well.

6. A well washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers therein, means for controlling communication between said chambers, said lower chamber having lateral discharge openings and lateral intake openings, said discharge and intake openings being spaced apart lengthwise of the barrel, and means for limiting the flow of'fluid through the respective openings to one direction only.

'7. A well washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers therein, means for controlling communication between said chambers, said lower chamber having lateral discharge openings and lateral intake openings, said discharge and intake openings being spaced apart lengthwise of the barrel, and having check-valves opening oppositely relative to the chamber in the respective discharge and intake openings.

8. A well washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers therein, a valve for controlling 1 communication between said chambers to trap washing liquid in the upper chamber, a second valve in the lower portion of the lower chamber for trapping fluid therein and means for opening said valves respectively when the device is lowered to the bottom of the well for discharge of the washing liquid.

9. A well washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers therein, a valve seating in a downward direction for controlling communication between said chambers to trap washing fluid in the upper chamber, a second valve in the lower portion of the lower chamber for trapping fluid therein, and means connected with said valves and projecting below the barrel for engagement with the bottom of the well to open the first-mentioned valve to discharge the washing fluid in the lower chamber, said lower chamber having openings therein for recirculating the washing fluid in the well.

10. A well washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers therein, a valve seating in a downward direction for controlling communication between said chambers to trap washing fluid in the upper chamber, a second valve in the lower portion of the lower chamber for trapping fluid therein, means connected with said valves and projecting below the barrel for engagement with the bottom of the wall to open the first-mentioned valve to discharge the washing fluid in the lower chamber, said lower chamber having openings therein for recirculating the washing fluid in the well, and a plunger operatively mounted in the upper chamber.

11. A well washing device comprising a barrel having upper and lower chambers therein, means for controlling communication between said said lower chamber having means for trapping washing fluid therein, and a plunger operatively mounted in the upper chamber for forcing the liquid out of and into the lower chamber.

ODE E. MELTON. 

